Booking and Payment Terms & Conditions

Definitions

The terms of business and expressions listed below will have the following meanings:

“We”, “us” and “our” all refer to The Sicilian Villa Company Limited and “you”, “your” or “client” all refer to the customer entering into the agreement.

The party leader is the person or agency who holds the booking and to whom all correspondence and invoices are addressed and who is responsible for the rental. Spouses’ names are not considered interchangeable and the party leader must be 18 years or older. Agencies are regarded as clients and party leaders. They, or their legal representative, must sign all the relevant documents including the booking form and provide as security a credit or debit card that is the agency’s property (company card). The Sicilian Villa Company shall not have any contract responsibility towards or any direct relationship with the agency’s client and all financial transactions shall be made exclusively between The Sicilian Villa Company and the agency.

To secure a booking we take a 30% (thirty percent) deposit and complete a booking form detailing all the information agreed with you. The booking form is then sent to you via email or post if you prefer. After checking the form carefully it must be signed and returned to us by post, alternatively you can email us a signed booking form and your agreement with the Booking and Payment Information terms and conditions

Upon receipt of your confirmation we will prepare and send you an invoice confirming the booking and the payment taken so far. Despatch of this confirmation invoice to the party leader constitutes the beginning of a binding contract between The Sicilian Villa Company and the party leader.

The contract and all matters arising out of it are governed by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises out of or in connection with this contract or your arrangements will be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales only.

Payment Methods

You may pay by credit card, Visa, Mastercard and American Express, UK debit card, UK cheque or bank transfer (Sterling only). We do not charge extra for credit card payments. Payments using American Express will incur a 1.5% handling charge. All payments are taken in UK sterling.

Payment

If the initial reservation is received less than nine weeks (63 days) before the first day of the rental period, the completed and signed Booking Form must be accompanied by 100% (one hundred percent) of the total invoice price within two working days. Payment is accepted by credit card or bank transfer only.

If the initial reservation is received more than nine weeks (64 days) before the first day of the rental period, the completed and signed booking form must be accompanied by a deposit of 30% (thirty percent) of the total invoice within five working days. Payments will be accepted by any of the forms described until the paragraph entitled “Payment Methods”.

Final payment of the balance of the cost of your rental must be received by us not less than nine weeks (63 days) before the commencement of the rental. This date will be shown on the confirmation invoice but we are not responsible to remind the party leader or agency of this final payment date. If we do not receive all final payments due on time we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled by you. The set out cancellation charges detailed below will be payable by you.

Cancellation by You

In the event of cancellation by you, the following table will be used to calculate the percentage of the invoice that will be charged to you as a cancellation fee:

Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us

Cancellation charge (% of total invoice)

More than 64 days

30%

63-43 days

60%

42-29 days

80%

28-0 days

100%

Any amendments to existing bookings by you will be subject to a fee of £25.00.

Personal travel insurance may allow you to reclaim these cancellation charges (less any applicable excess). However, we are not responsible to make these claims and they must be made by you directly to your insurance company.

Cancellation by us

In the unlikely event that we are forced to make changes to a booking the client will be notified by us. Should a property become unavailable for reasons beyond our control, we will do our utmost to find an alternative property in the same area. We reserve the right to transfer your booking to that property. If we are unable to find a similar property in the same area, we will refund you the full amount but will not be liable for cancellation charges pertaining to travel arrangements that have been made by you.

Property Description

Every effort has been made to describe the properties in a true accurate fashion. We have personally visited each property and discussed with the owner the terms and conditions of rental, receiving their understanding of and agreement with the standard of accommodation and facilities expected by our clients. However, we decline all responsibility for any changes or alterations made to the property or the surrounding landscape without our knowledge. If we are made aware of any significant changes we will advise you in writing as soon as possible.

Sicily is subject to seasonal climatic changes and infrastructure vagaries of the area. Heavy rainfalls may produce torrents of water that will cause small country roads and paths to deteriorate and become difficult to navigate. The summer months are hot and very dry and produce unusual odours and on very windy days drains may also produce strange odours.

In addition, many of the properties we have selected are located in relatively remote areas to afford them the privacy and views that many of our clients prefer. Travelling to these remote locations may be time consuming and require a little patience and a suitable vehicle.

The Sicilian Villa Company is not responsible for inconveniences or delays resulting from changes in the weather.

Prices shown on our website may also have changed by the time you book your holiday and we are not liable for any errors, increases or differences from the rates published.

Safety and facilities for children

If a property is listed as being suitable for children we were mindful of this during our inspection and we have confirmed that the property owner is willing to accept children. Facilities and furniture for infants and small children may be available and this can be checked at the time of the initial reservation. The Sicilian Villa Company does not accept any responsibility for the sanitary and safety standards of these items and it is strongly recommended that you bring with you all bedding, etc to alleviate any possible concerns you may have in this regard.

Household facilities

All properties are supplied with sufficient linens, towels, tableware and cookware for the number of guests shown on the booking form. Fresh linens and towels are provided on a weekly basis.

Water is included in the rental price but it is strongly recommended that you buy bottled water for drinking. Sicily is subjected to water shortages in the summer months and many properties will have to purchase water. In order to avoid temporarily running out of water, please be mindful of this and refrain from using excessive amounts of water and leaving taps running.

Charges for heating are applied according to consumption and must be paid locally in Euros at the end of the rental period.

We have determined that average electricity consumption is 330 kilowatts per week and this is included in your rental charge. Consumption in excess of this amount will be charged at 25c per kilowatt.

Hot tubs are generally open in spring ad autumn seasons only but you can check with us regarding specific dates and heating charges.

Please notify the owner/caretaker of the property if you experience any problems with any of the above facilities and they will do their best to rectify the situation as soon as possible. We are not responsible for any inconveniences you may experience in the unlikely event that such a problem occurs.

Final Cleaning Charge

Some of our properties have a final cleaning charge. You will be invoiced for this and it will be added to your final bill 63 days prior to the first day of the rental period.

Seasonal Heating and Air Conditioning Surcharges

Some of our properties charge for heating and air conditioning. This must be paid in euros to the owner/caretaker on your day of departure.

Complaints

In the unlikely event you are dissatisfied with your rental property you must immediately inform the owner/caretaker of the property and us. If the problem is not remedied quickly you will need to put your complaint in writing to us. If you remain dissatisfied you must write to us within four weeks (28 days) of the end of your holiday advising us of your complaint.

Agency Commissions

Commission paid to an agency will be based on the price list and agreed between the agency and The Sicilian Villa Company.

Insurance

It is a condition of booking that you obtain appropriate travel insurance. Your insurance should at least cover medical expenses, personal accident and repatriation in the event of illness or accident, loss or damage to your personal effects, money (including cancellation fees paid by you), and third party liability cover.

Travel and Activity Arrangements

Your travel agent, airline or the appropriate Embassy/consulate will be able to advise you as to any travel documentation required for your visit to Italy and it is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain and carry all the appropriate documentation.

The Sicilian Villa Company is not responsible for making your air, car or any tour arrangements but will be happy to provide as much information and local knowledge as possible to assist you.